DS Daily - 6th November 2012 |
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Clampdown on benefits for addicts
Drug addicts and alcoholics who claim thousands of pounds a year in sickness benefits could be stripped of their handouts if they do not seek treatment | Telegraph, UK
Do rehab or lose benefits
Addicts face clampdown on handouts | The Sun, UK
Teachers increasingly bear the burden of supporting vulnerable children
Working in a variety of areas around the country, they list the usual, devastating suspects: mental ill health, domestic violence, alcohol and drug misuse, unemployment and poor parental education. Despite this, none of the staff interviewed had any doubt that the thresholds for social services to take action have risen | Guardian, UK
The stigma of drug addiction: “I felt inadequate, inferior, ashamed”
Sue is one of millions across the country who are adversely affected by a relative’s addiction, and last week she joined the call for action around the strain and stigma afflicting people in her position | Independent, UK
Kingston Drug and alcohol charity offices could be turned into a residential block
The iconic office of a drug and alcohol charity could be turned into a residential block after GPs decided to hand the new mental health and substance misuse service back to NHS provider | Local Guardian, UK
Managing alcohol problems in the workplace: treatment works
It is almost inevitable that at one time or another a senior HR professional will be confronted by the dilemma of what to do about someone in the workplace who has an alcohol dependency proble | HR, UK
Road-tested good ideas to prevent underage alcohol sales
No controlled studies, but lots of road-tested good ideas which seem to have worked from case study areas across the UK of innovation and cooperation in promoting compliance with laws banning sale of alcohol to under-18s and reducing related public nuisance | Drug and AlcoholFindings, UK
Views sought on strengthening NHS Constitution
Proposals to strengthen the NHS Constitution are set out for public consultation today, with the NHS, patients and public are all being asked to respond | Department of Health, UK
Self-harm on rise for young drug users
Addiction experts have seen an increase in self-harm rates and mental health problems among adolescents seeking help for multi-drug addiction in Cork | Irish Examiner
Alcohol putting pressure on GI services
The high rate of alcohol consumption in Ireland is putting further strain on an already overstretched gastroenterology service, a consultant has warned | Irish Health
U.S. vote may be beginning of the end for War on Drugs
Prohibition's days seem numbered as 3 states vote on legalizing marijuana | Vancouver Sun, Canada
Obama Administration Drug Czar Calls For Wider Access to Overdose Antidote
Speaking on Wednesday at a North Carolina overdose-prevention program, the Obama administration’s drug czar Gil Kerlikowske called for increased action to prevent drug overdose deaths. Notably, Kerlikowske urged wider distribution of a medication called naloxone | Naloxone, Ireland
Successfully fighting the war on drugs
The U.S. Border Patrol has doubled in size, we’ve bolstered operations at our ports of entry and we’ve expanded successful partnerships with the Mexican government that are cracking down on cross-border crime. Letter, Gil Kerlikowske | Washington Post, USA
Garrett concerned about State drug and alcohol cuts
The Federal School Education Minister is promising to take on board a Newcastle community campaigner's concerns about the axing of a State drug and alcohol education unit | ABC News, Australia
Top drug advisory council seeks youth input on drug policy
The National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) at the University of New South Wales is casting assumptions aside and asking 16-25 year olds directly: what do you think about Australia’s responses to alcohol and other drug use? Survey | NDARC, Australia
Top cop says prior drug use should not preclude police career
People who admit to having experimented with drugs in their youth should be allowed to pursue policing careers, Queensland's new top cop says | Brisbane Times, Australia
Government steps up anti-smoking momentum
Anti-smoking advertising campaigns aimed at the general community and high-risk groups such as pregnant women and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are the latest initiative in the Government’s world-leading push to help Australians stop smoking | AHHA, Australia
Changes in smoking intensity among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, 1994–2008
This first report of a significant reduction in heavy smoking by Indigenous smokers is good news | MJA, Australia
Ninety percent success rate for smoking cessation services
In New Zealand an estimated 1 in 7 people aged 45 and over has COPD (more than 200,000 people) with 85 percent of these smokers or ex-smokers | Scoop, New Zealand